Characters: Colonies have thin (up to 5 mm diameter), irregular, often anastomosing branches with blunt ends. Corallites are prominent, almost tubular, with well developed hoods giving branches a spiny appearance. They have style-like columellae and six primary septa which may be short or fused with the columella. The coenosteum is covered by fine spinules. Tentacles are often extended during the day.
Colour: Cream or pink, occasionally greenish.
Similar Species: Stylophora subseriata, which has a similar growth-form but lacks spiny corallite hoods. See also S. pistillata, which can have fine branches, but only in deep or turbid water.
Habitat: Shallow reef environments.
Abundance: Usually uncommon.
Taxonomic References: Scheer and Pillai (1983); Veron (2000a);
